Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 15.djvu/441

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In the meane time the women remaining on the hill, tormented themselues lamentably, tearing their flesh from their cheekes, whereby we perceiued that they were about a sacrifice. In the mean time our Generall with his company went to prayer, and to reading of the Scripture, at which exercise they were attentiue, and seemed greatly to be affected with it: but when they were come vnto vs, they restored againe unto vs those things which before we bestowed vpon them.

The newes of our being there being spread through the Countrey, the people that inhabited round about came downe, and amongst them the King himselfe, a man of goodly stature, and comely personage, with many other tall and warlike men: before whose comming were sent two Ambassadors to our Generall, to signifie that their King was comming, in doing of which message, their speach was continued about halfe an houre. This ended, they by signes requested our Generall to send some thing by their hand to their king, as a token that his comming might be in peace: wherein our Generall hauing satisfied them, they returned with glad tidings to their King, who marched to vs with a princely maiestie, the people crying continually after their manner, and as they drew neere vnto vs, so did they striue to behaue themselues in their actions with comlinesse.

Chaines like those of Canada. In the fore-front was a man of a goodly personage, who bare the scepter or mace before the King, whereupon hanged two crownes; a lesse and a bigger, with three chaines of a marueilous length: the crownes were made of knit worke wrought artificially with fethers of diuers colours: the chaines were made of a bonie substance, and few be the persons among them that are admitted to weare them: and of that number also the persons are stinted, as some ten, some 12. etc. Next vnto him which bare the scepter, was the King himselfe, with his Guard about his person, clad with Conie skins, and other skins: after them followed the naked common sort of people, euery one hauing his face painted, some with white, some with blacke, and other colours, and hauing in their hands one thing or another for a present, not so much as their children, but they also brought their presents.

In the meane time our Generall gathered his men together, and marched within his fenced place, making against their approching, a very warre-like shew. They being trooped together in their order, and a general salutation being made,